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NC State Baseball

Fourth-Ranked NC State Baseball Defeats Wake Forest to Complete Sweep

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RALEIGH, N.C. – The fourth-ranked NC State baseball team completed the series sweep against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons with a 10-6 win Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack has won eight consecutive games to record its fourth weekend sweep of the season and second in ACC play.

NC State gained control of the game with six unanswered runs after trailing 5-4 heading to the bottom of the sixth. The Pack scored three in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth to pull ahead and secure the win.

The Wolfpack moves to 39-12 on the year and 18-9 in ACC play, while Wake Forest falls to 22-29 and 11-16 in conference action. Redshirt freshman Connor Centala earned his first collegiate win in the contest with an inning of shutout relief, while Wake’s Tyler Witt was hit with the loss.

Kent Klyman threw the final three innings for the Pack and registered his fourth save.

Avent’s Additions
Overall thoughts…
“I’m just really proud of our guys,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “They’ve gone through a lot; this season has been tough. It’s a tough transition from two intense night games with great crowds to a day game. Today felt like New Mexico to me, I do not know what it felt like to them.

“We just got behind again and I’m really proud of their effort. We were thin in pitching and I thought Centala [Connor] came in and pitched a really good inning for us. I just think we’re playing very well right now.”

On completing the sweep on Senior Day…
“Senior Day is special and everybody talks about that. It is about Senior Day, but it’s also about winning and getting better. If it hadn’t had been Senior Day, it would have been just as big but I’m sure looking back on it they will remember this win on Senior Day.”

Quick Hits
– NC State struck early in the contest, as a double from Brett Kinneman in the bottom of the first pushed across the first runs of the game as the Wolfpack took a 2-0 lead.
– Wake Forest countered with a pair of runs in the top of the second to knot the score at two apiece after an RBI groundout and an RBI single.
– Evan Edwards led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk and scored on a double to left center by Stephen Pitarra, as the Wolfpack answered quickly to regain the lead 3-2.
– The Demon Deacons pulled ahead, 5-3, with three runs in the third following a wild pitch and a two-run homer from Cole McNamee.
– Will Wilson started the bottom of the frame with a double to right center and scored on an RBI groundout from Kinneman to narrow the margin to 5-4.
– After both teams were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth, Josh McLain hit a two-RBI triple to left center to give NC State a 6-5 lead after Devonte Brown and J.T. Jarrett walked and singled earlier in the frame.
– Wilson followed with a single through the left side to score McLain, as the Wolfpack scored all three runs in the frame with two outs.
– Edwards scored the eighth run of the game for NC State on a safety squeeze from Jarrett, as he was called out initially but was ruled safe after review.
– McLain’s sacrifice fly extended the Pack’s advantage to 9-5 with Brown scoring from third.
– Patrick Bailey walked and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches to push across the 10thrun of the day for NC State.
– Wake Forest got a run back in the ninth on a solo homer from Michael Ludowig, but Klyman rebounded to retire the next three batters to get the save.

Inside the Box Score
– Wilson led the Wolfpack at the plate and was the only player in the game to record three hits to go along with an RBI and a run scored.
– Pitarra also turned in a multi-hit performance, as he doubled twice in the contest and scored a run, while driving in another.
– NC State scored 10 or more runs for the 12thtime this season.
– The Wolfpack is also 29-3 on the year when scoring at least six runs.

On the Mound
– Freshman Evan Justice made his first ACC start of his collegiate career and went 1.2 innings.
– Michael Bienlien turned in a strong relief appearance with three innings pitched, yielding one earned run with three strikeouts.
– Centala inherited a runner on first in the sixth and forced a double play and then a groundout to end the inning.
– Klyman closed out the game, pitching the final three innings and he fanned four batters.
– The Wolfpack pitching staff struck out seven batters and walked just one.

On Deck
NC State returns to action in its final regular-season series, as the Wolfpack travels to Tallahassee for a matchup with Florida State. First pitch of Thursday and Friday’s games is at 6 p.m., while Saturday’s series finale is set for 1 p.m.

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NC State Baseball

NC State is Back in the Top-25 After Three Top-25 Wins Last Week

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After 3 Top-25 wins last week (1 over Coastal Carolina & 2 over Duke), NC State’s Baseball team is back in the Top-25 in 4 of the 5 polls. Last week was the only week that the Wolfpack hasn’t been ranked all season, after losing 1 game to UNCG, and losing all 3 at Georgia Tech.

USAToday Coaches Poll – #22

D1Baseball – #22

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Baseball America – #25

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NCBWA – #25

 

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NC State Baseball

NC State Loses Series Finale 2-13, but Wins Series vs. #9 Duke

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NC State lost the series finale 2-13 yesterday, but won the series against #9 Duke.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was the sole source of offense, knocking in both runs on two solo Home Runs. A-Mak now has 10 Home Runs on the year. Makarewicw’s batting average is .359, and his OPS is 1.226.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton’s struggles continue, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings, striking out 5. His ERA on the season is 8.37, with a 1-2 record.

Fritton isn’t the only pitcher that struggled.

Senior Hollis Fanning gave up 5 runs in 2.1 innings in relief. His ERA in the year is 7.30.

Junior Carson Kelly gave up three runs in 0.2 innings pitched. His ERA is 27.00 in 2 appearances.

Despite losing in this way in the finale, NC State had a heck of a week, beating #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and taking 2 of 3 against #9 Duke.

The Wolfpack will look to get revenge tomorrow night at 6pm against UNCG. Two weeks ago, they lost to the Spartans 3-18 in a midweek game.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Secures Series Win Against #9 Duke With a 9-8 Walk-Off Victory Over #9 Duke

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After pulling off heroics in the 8th inning last night, NC State decided to make it even more exciting last night, shifting their heroics to the bottom of the 9th.

With #9 Duke leading 8-3 in the Bottom of the 9th inning, the Wolfpack would need a miracle, and sometimes you get exactly what you need.

Sometimes a miracle starts with a little bit of luck. With 1 out, Sophomore Josh Hogue grounded into a fielders choice, where as a result of an error, he ended up at 2nd, Senior Noah Outfielder Soles ended up at 3rd and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth ended running across home plate.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington would then hit a 3-run Home Run, cutting Duke’s lead to 2.

With 2 outs left, Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit a 2-run walk-off bomb, giving NC State a 9-8 series clinching win over #9 Duke.

Senior Starting Pitcher Logan Whitaker wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. He gave up 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched.

Junior Win Scott pitched in relief for the first time since February 28th, giving up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Freshman Heath Andrews was up next, pitching for the first time since March 10th, giving up 2 earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched.

Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his first Win of the season, pitching a scoreless 8th inning.

Pennington, Serrano III and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart all had 2 hits apiece.

Pennington had 2 Home Runs and 4 RBI’s, giving him 5 on the year.

Serranno III and Soles each had 2 RBI’s apiece, both coming off of Home Runs.

After falling out of the Top-25 on Monday, NC State has won 3 straight games against Top-15 opponents, and they will look to make that 4 straight tomorrow as the Wolfpack and Blue Devils close out the series at 1pm.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Wins Series Opener Against #9 Duke Behind a Solid Highfill Performance

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NC State is rebounding in a major way this week. After losing all 4 games last week (Midweek vs. UNCG & swept at GT), the Wolfpack defeated #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and defeated #9 Duke 4-3 in the series opener tonight at home.

The Wolfpack were carried by a solid outing by starter Sam Highfill, who gave up 3 runs over 7 innings, while striking out 8. Highfill is now 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA.

Freshman Jacob Dudan continues to impress, picking up the Save, throwing 2 scoreless innings. Dudan now has 3 Saves on the year, and is rocking a 2.70 ERA.

With the game tied 3-3, Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th, knocking in Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz.

The other 3 RBI’s weren’t exciting in nature, with Sophomore Left Fielder and Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington bringing in Runs on groundouts, and Freshman 2nd Baseman ushering in a Run with a Walk with the bases loaded.

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